Device for cooling electrodeless lamp with supersonic outlet jets and a staggered manifold

Abstract

An apparatus for cooling an electrodeless lamp including a supersonic outlet jet for providing a stream of cooling gas. A common manifold including mounting elements for a plurality of conduits of equal length for transporting cooling gas, wherein the mounting elements are at staggered elevational positions so that the conduits provide cooling gas in the vicinity of lamp envelope at different elevational positions.

We claim: 
     
       1. An apparatus for cooling an electrodeless lamp having a lamp envelope which is capable of becoming extremely hot during operation, said apparatus comprising: means for providing a source of cooling gas;   conduit means for carrying said cooling gas from said source of cooling gas and in a vicinity of said lamp envelope; and   a supersonic outlet jet for providing a stream of cooling gas from said conduit means toward said lamp envelope for cooling said lamp envelope.   
     
     
       2. The apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising: a common manifold for securing said lamp envelope and said conduit means;   wherein said conduit means comprises a plurality of conduits having substantially equal lengths.   
     
     
       3. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said common manifold includes a mounting element for each of said conduits, the mounting elements being staggered in said manifold in varying elevational positions to provide cooling gas in the vicinity of said lamp envelope from varying elevational positions around said lamp envelope. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said supersonic jet comprises a throat having a diameter of about 0.035 inches, a convergent section having a length of about 0.1 inches and an exit having a diameter of about 0.040 inches. 
     
     
       5. An apparatus for cooling an electrodeless lamp having a lamp envelope which is capable of becoming extremely hot during operation, said apparatus comprising: means for providing a source of cooling gas;   a plurality of conduit means having substantially equal lengths for carrying said cooling gas from said source of cooling gas and in a vicinity of said lamp envelope; and   a common manifold for securing said lamp envelope and said conduit means, wherein said common manifold includes a mounting element for each of said conduit means, the mounting elements being staggered vertically to provide cooling gas in the vicinity of said lamp envelope in differing elevational positions with respect to said lamp envelope.   
     
     
       6. The apparatus according to claim 5 further comprising a supersonic outlet jet on each of said plurality of conduit means for providing a stream of cooling gas from said conduit means toward said lamp envelope for cooling said lamp envelope. 
     
     
       7. An apparatus for cooling an electrodeless lamp having a lamp envelope which is capable of becoming extremely hot during operation, said apparatus comprising: means for providing a source of cooling gas;   a plurality of conduit means having substantially equal lengths for carrying said cooling gas from said source of cooling gas and in a vicinity of said lamp envelope; and   a common manifold for securing said lamp envelope and said conduit means, wherein said common manifold includes an adjustable mounting element for each of said conduit means, said adjustable mounting elements allowing said conduit means to be vertically adjusted.   
     
     
       8. An apparatus for cooling an electrodeless lamp having a lamp envelope which is capable of becoming extremely hot during operation, said apparatus comprising: means for providing a source of cooling gas;   a plurality of conduit means having substantially equal lengths for carrying said cooling gas from said source of cooling gas and in a vicinity of said lamp envelope; and   a common manifold for securing said lamp envelope and said conduit means, further comprising a supersonic outlet jet on each of said plurality of conduit means for providing a stream of cooling gas from said conduit means toward said lamp envelope for cooling said lamp envelope.